Are The Miami Dolphins Legit?
7 straight games, 7 straight losses to start the season and everyone was ready to count out the then 1-7 Miami Dolphins and quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa.
7 straight games, 7 straight wins and Tua now leads the league in completion percentage (70.1%) with the now 8-7 Dolphins in the hunt for the playoffs. They are the only team in NFL history to have a 7 game winning streak and a 7 game losing streak in the same season.
It’s been a wild ride for the Miami Dolphins this year. They started the year off with a 17-16 win in New England. Tua looked good and their defense came up with a big stop, Miami fans were excited for the rest of the season.
The next 7 weeks, Miami didn’t win a single game and lost by an average 13.7 a game, including a blow out loss to the Bills, 35-0. During their losing streak, there was a constant whisper about if Miami was going to trade their young star quarterback for troubled Texans quarterback, Deshaun Watson. When asked if he felt wanted by the organization, Tua responded with, “I don’t feel not wanted… I have the utmost trust and confidence that I am the quarterback of this team.”
Tua Tagovailoa, QB of the Miami Dolphins.
Then everything changed. In a game against the struggling Houston Texans, Miami flew out of Houston with their first victory since week 1 of the season, winning the game 17-9. Not a single person could’ve predicted what was about to happen, not even Miami fans.
Miami went on to win 7 straight games after that by an average of 10.6 a game. Now, with the NFL playoffs just 3 weeks away, Miami (mostly) controls their own destiny to the playoffs.
Tagovailoa calling an audible Monday night against New Orleans.
PLAYOFF SCENARIOS
Miami makes the playoffs if:
Miami goes 2-0 these last two weeks
or
Miami goes 1-1 these last two weeks BUT Denver and Cleveland win this week, and Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, and LA Chargers win next week
Miami misses the playoffs if:
Miami goes 0-2 these last two weeks
or
Miami loses to Tennessee, and then New England, Las Vegas, and LA Chargers win
Will Miami make their first playoff appearance since 2016?
No. During their 8 game win streak, the Dolphins only beat 2 teams who could be in the playoffs come the end of the year (Ravens and Saints). While the win against Baltimore was impressive, the Saints were missing 20 players due to Health and Safety protocols and had a rookie quarterback in Ian Book, make his debut NFL game. The other teams that they beat during their win streak has a combined win percentage of .284, or have about 4-5 wins.
It will be an exciting last two weeks for Miami fans but I do not think they have enough to make the playoffs. Shoutout to Brian Flores, who should be considered in the NFL Coach of The Year talks.
ALL IMAGES ARE FROM Getty Images